Managing Holiday Emotions
“But mom,” wailed my daughter, “I wanted to put the glitter stars on the tree.” She collapses onto the sofa and…
MorePosts tagged: Mindfulness
Helping Kids Find Their Anchors
My uncle took me fishing on his boat for my tenth birthday. Partway through the trip, his line snagged something and…
MoreActivating Social-Emotional Learning Skills
The beginning of a new school year is marked with excitement and anxiety. It’s a transition point, which requires…
MoreCreating a Calming Corner
December can be an overwhelming month for kids. Seasonal changes prompt a shift in clothing and outdoor activities.…
MoreKindness Trees
“No, no, no!” said the preschool teacher as she rushed over to a child threatening to hit a playmate. “It’s not…
MorePracticing Calm
When my kids were little, getting everyone out of the house on time without tears or tantrums was a daily challenge.…
MoreHelping Children Find Their Anchors
As we were preparing to move from one state to another, my four year old fell apart. “Where’s my train, my bunny,…
MoreEaster as Spring Celebration
Eggs hidden on windowsills or in the grass. Baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. Pots of tulips,…
MoreShifting Bad Habits to Good Practices
When I was a child, I bit my nails. It was a reflexive action whenever I felt stressed or anxious. I don’t really…
MoreExploring Emotion with Crying is Like the Rain
Children’s feelings can shift and change rapidly. One minute a toddler is happily playing and the next they’re…
MoreCelebrating Kwanzaa with Children
Seven candles stand tall in a kinara, ready for lighting. Their number and colors (red, black, and green) suggest this…
MoreSit Spots
Now that school is back in session, children have much less time to spend outdoors. Pressure to prepare kids for…
MoreStarters That Support Well-Being
“Can’t I just be 10 minutes late?” pleaded my daughter. We were driving to her Brownie troop meeting and I could…
MoreExercising Attention
It’s the usual afterschool chaos in my house. Classic rock plays loudly and all three kids are gyrating in an…
MoreReading Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts
Disney’s popular movie, Turning Red, has called attention to how children struggle with big emotions, especially…
MoreTaking Flight with The Year We Learned to Fly
Cultural and spiritual heritages are often passed on to new generations through stories and teachings by elders.…
MoreMindful Art
Self-awareness and emotional regulation are spiritual skills that every child needs. Research shows that art activities…
MoreMindful Nature Walks
I do a lot of walking. I sometimes walk from my house to my office two blocks away. I pace while talking on the phone…
MoreFinding Our Calm
When my middle child was in third grade, she was very anxious about taking tests. Her stomach would hurt and she would…
MoreNeuroscience and Learning
Have you ever heard (or said) that spirituality is ‘caught, not taught’? While it’s true that good models and…
MoreDigital Spirituality with Young Children
A friend posts a snapshot of her three year old daughter on social media. Sonia* has her head bent over her mom’s…
MoreCreating a Mindfulness Space
Mindfulness practices help children to become more self-aware. When they spend time being present with themselves, they…
MoreStrengthening Connections
“I forgot my mask” yelled my daughter as she ran home from the bus stop, then back out again, mask in hand. Going…
MoreColoring as a Mindfulness Practice
As children return to in-person gatherings, they may feel anxious and stressed. An art-based mindfulness practice can…
MoreManaging Big Emotions with Mindfulness
When my children were little and dealing with sibling arguments, I taught them a quick mindfulness practice to help…
MoreGuided Play
When it comes to educating young children, we’ve all heard that play is an important part of learning. And yet, when…
MoreFocused Attention
Mindfulness is all the rage these days, and rightly so. When children take a few moments to focus their attention, they…
More